Wells drilled in federally protected aquifers

In a preliminary review of the state’s thousands of oil production and oil wastewater wells, the California Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources this year identified 2,553 wells that it suspected had been inadvertently allowed to inject into federally protected aquifers. After further review, the agency removed some injection wells from its risk category because they were abandoned, plugged or properly permitted. The agency has also shutdown 23 wells since it released this data. The agency is continuing to investigate the wells and says protecting water quality is its highest priority.